Adjusting machine



Aug. 11, 1942. w, NORRIS, JR 2,292,649

ADJUSTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORXEYS.

A118? 1942- w. NORRIS, JR 2,292,649

ADJUSTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

1, 1942. w. NORRIS, JR 2,292,649

ADJUSTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1940 3 Shees-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTING MACHINE William Norris, Jr., West Monroe, Appllcation December 3011940, Serial No. 372,421

6 Claims.

' contact between the hands of an operator and the body of a patient, may be reproduced.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains. I

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise controls the jaws 3. The jaws 8 open and close transversely of the arm 2. r

' The clamp block 5 may be adjusted vertically on the post i, and it may be swung circumferentially'of the post I for adjustment. The arm 2 can be adjusted longitudinally between the jaws 8, and can be rotated for adjustment in the said jaws. The construction is such that a wide variety of adjustments is possible, so far as the position of the working parts (Fig. 4) which are carried by the ball 4 is concerned.

The numeral Ill -marks a drum-like carrier,

- forming part of the aforesaid support. The mem- [6 (Fig. 4). A handle nut I1 is threaded on the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed,

' tion.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through the carrier, parts remaining in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail illustrating one of the valve mechanisms;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the piston in advanced position;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a support, which may be constructed in various ways. As shown, but notof necessity, the support includes a pedestal comprising a vertical post I. An arm 2 is disposed transversely of the post I (Fig. 2). The arm 2 has an angularly disposed end 3, carrying a ball 4. On the ball 4 may be mounted(Fig. 4) the working parts of the device.

The numeral 5 (Fig. 2) marks a clamp block. At one end, the clamp block 5 has Jaws 6. The jaws 6 receive the post I. A handle screw 1 tightens the jaws 6 on the post I. The jaws 6 open and close transversely of the axis of the post I. At its opposite end, the clamp block 5 has jaws 8, constructed like the jaws 6. The arm 2 is received between the jaws 8. A handle screw 9 clamp seat I6. The ball 4 on the part 3 orv the arm 2 (Fig. 2) is clamped between the members l6 and IT. A ball and socket connection thus is afforded between the arm 2 and the carrier ill, and the carrier thus may be moved into many different positions, other than those afforded by the double-jawed clamp block 5, and may be held in adjusted positions by tightening the handle cap ll. a i

The heads l2 and I are provided with outwardly extended brackets l8 (Figs. 1 and-2). A radial cylinder I9 is pivotally mounted between the outer ends of the brackets l8. A piston rod 20 (Fig. 3) is mounted for reciprocation in the inner head of the cylinder l9, and carries a piston head 2| located in the cylinder Ill. The inner head of the cylinder I9 is supplied with relief ports 22, to the end that the piston head 2i may be advanced readily and without back pressure.

The rim ll of the carrier I0 is provided with an outstanding tubular guide 23 (Fig. 3). A plunger 24 is mounted for straight line movement in the guide 23. The plunger 24 may be calibrated as shown at 25, to make manifest the amount of longitudinal movement that is imparted to the plunger. A foot 26 is' detachably mounted on the outer end of the plunger 24 and may be made of rubber or other cushioning material, since it is the part that comes into immediate contact with the patients body.

A hangerll is mounted in the rim ll of the carrier Ill at a place diametrically opposite to the guide 23. The outer end of a first link 28 is connected by a pivot element 29 to the hanger 21. The outer end of a second link 38 is connected by a pivot element 3| to the inner end of the plunger 24. The inner ends of the links 28 and 38 are connected by a pivot element 32 to the inner end of the piston rod 28. Since the cylinder I9 is pivotally mounted between the outer ends of the brackets I9, the piston rod 28 will not bind in its bearing in the head of the cylinder.

The links 28 and 38 form a knuckle joint. The acuteness of the knuckle joint toward the right in Fig. 3, and consequently the throw imparted to the plunger 24 and the foot 26, is limited by an adjustable stop 33. The stop 33 is a headed screw, the inner end of which is so positioned as to be engaged by the link 30. The. stop 33 is threaded for longitudinal adjustment through a nipple 34 on the rim ll of the carrier I8. A lock nut 35 is threaded on the stop screw 33 and, cooperating with the nipple 34, holds the stop screw 33 in any position to which it may have been adjusted longitudinally. The amount that the knuckle joint, formed by the members 28 and 38, moves to the left in Fig. 3, is terminated by an internal stop block 36 (Fig. 3), mounted on the rim ll of the drum-like carrier l8.

The link 28 slides through a radius arm 31 (Figs. 4 and 3), secured to the-inner end of a shaft 38, which is journaled in an outstanding tubular bearing 39 on the head l4, the shaft being provided with an exposed turning button 48.

The radius arm 31 and the shaft 38 have two functions. One of these is to restore the parts to the position of Fig. 3, after the knuckle joint formed by the links 28 and 38 has angled to the left from the position of Fig. 3, into engagement with the stop block 36. Moreover, by means of the shaft 38 and the radius arm 31, the operator can swing the links 28 and 38 to the left in Fig. 3, noting on the plunger scale 25 how much throw is imparted to the plunger 24 and the foot 28, the stop 33 then being adjusted, accordingly, to engage the link 38.

A tubular valve casing 4| (Fig. 3) is connected to the outer end of the cylinder l9, transversely of the axis of the cylinder. The outer head of the cylinder I9 has an inlet port 42, communieating with the cylinder, outwardly of the piston 2|. In the wall of the cylinder IS, a longitudinal exhaust passage 43 is formed.

At its outer end, the exhaust passage 43 communicates with the valve casing 4|, in spaced relation to the inlet port 42. The inner end of the exhaust passage 43 communicates with the cylinder |9 by way of ports 44 and 45, spaced apart lengthwise of the cylinder l9. Cleanout plugs 46 in the cylinder 9 give access to the ports 44 and 45.

A piston valve 41 works loosely in the valve casing 4|. The piston valve 41 is adapted to be raised by exhaust pressure delivered through the passage 43, but the exhaust can leak past the piston valve and find an exit through an opening 48 in the upper head of the valve casing 4|. The valve casing 4| is supplied with a lateral nipple 49. The piston valve 41 is supplied with a circumscribing groove 58. When the piston valve 41 is seated on the lower head of the valve casing 4|, as in Fig. 3, the groove 58 establishes communication between the nipple 49 and the outer end of the cylinder l9, by way of the port 42.

The piston valve 41 has a stem of such cross section that it cannot turn in the upper head of the valve casing 4|. Near its lower end, the piston valve 41 is flattened a little on one side, to form a passage 52, which does not extend up to the port 42 when the pistonvalve is seated on the lower head of the valve casing 4|. Because the stem 5| is so engaged with the upper head of the valve casing 4| that the piston valve 41 cannot rotate, the passage52 always is presented to the port 42, when the piston valve rises.

The nipple 49 of the valve casing 4| is connected to a conduit (Fig. 2) including a rigid part 53 and a flexible part 54. The flexible part 54 of the conduit is joined to a valve casing 55 on an air-pressure storage tank 56, the valve casing carrying a valve indicated sufllciently by the numeral 51 and oflering no structural peculiarities. Air under pressure is supplied to the tank 56 by way of an inlet 59.

A tubular valve casing 59, shown in Fig. 5, is interposed in the rigid part 53 of th air supply conduit 53-54. The constituent members oi. the rigid part 53 of the conduit are oifset longitudinally of the valve casing 59. A piston valve 68 is mounted to reciprocate in the valve casing 59. A stem 6| carries the piston valve 58 and is slidable in one end of the casing 59.

The valve 68 is advanced into closed position with respect to the lower part of the conduit member 53, as in Fig. 5, through the instrumentality of a compression spring 62, interposed between the valve and one head of the valve casing 59. The valve 68 stops, in the closed position of Fig. 5, under the push of the spring 62, because the valve stem 6| has a shoulder 63, adapted to engage the said head of the valve casing 59.

The valve mechanism 55-51 of Fig. 2 may be assumed to be open, so that air under pressure can flow into the conduit member 54, thevalve 68 being in the closed position of Fig. 5, whereby air cannot pass into the conduit member 53.

By means of the stem 6|, the operator opens the valve 68 and air flows through the conduit 54-53, into the nipple 49 (Fig. 3) of the valve casing 4|. Pressure on the stem 6| of the valve 68 may be relieved at any appropriate time, the spring 62 causing the valve to resume the closed position shown in Fig. 5.

Assuming that the valve 41 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, air flows from the nipple 49 by way of the valve groove 58, through the port 42, into the outer end of the cylinder I9, and the piston 2| is advanced.

As the piston 2| advances, it clears the outermost port 44. This relieves the pressure on the piston 2| somewhat, and the advance of the piston is slowed up. Ultimately, the piston 2| 'clears the port 45, as in Fig. 6, and the exhaust flows by way of the ports 44 and 45, into the passage 43, and underneath the piston valve 41 (Fig. 3')

The piston valve 41 is raised by exhaust pressure, until the groove 58 no longer is in communication with the port 42 and with the pressure-supplying nipple 49. The side passage 52 in the valve 41 comes into communication with the port 42, and, thus, air pressure to the right of the advanced piston is relieved. The exhaust air leaks slowly by the piston valve 41, and finds an exit through the hole 43 in the upper head 01 the valve casing 4| Up to this point, the description of the operation includes merely the advancement of the piston rod 28. The action of the piston rod 28 in obtaining-the necessary and desired results, so

far as the patient is concerned, will now be traced out.

When the piston rod 20 is advanced, the links 30 and 28 swing to the left in Fig. 3, the plunger 24 and the foot 26 being advanced. A maximum Pressure is exerted when the links 28 and 30 are in axial alinement. As the links 28 and 30 approach a position of axial alinement, the piston 2| passes the port 44 in the cylinder l9, and the advance of the piston 2| is slowed up, the advancing movement of the foot 26 being retarded accordingly. Ultimately, the links 28 and 30 knuckle to the left, into engagement with the stop 36, the plunger 24 and the foot 26 being retracted.

The machine is re-set to the position of Fig. 3, through the instrumentality of the button 40 of Fig. 4, the shaft 38 and the radius arm 37, as hereinbefore explained.

A discussion of the technique of adjusting subluxated vertebrae belongs in the literature of the chiropractic art and has no place in this document. Let it suflice to remark that adjustment depends upon properly controlled pressure, exerted at the locus of disorder. The foot 26, actuated by the mechanism wherewith it is assembled, duplicates the results produced by the hands of a skillful operator..

It is not pretended that the machine can convert a bungler into an expert, but by its use a skilled operator is relieved of physical exertion, and is enabled to turn his efforts and attention to a service more fruitful than mere physical labor.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for adjusting subluxated vertebrae, a support, a body engaging member movably mounted on the support, links having their inner ends pivotally united, theouter end of one link being pivotally connected to the support, the outer end of the other link being pivotally connected to the body engaging member, means assembled with the support for actuating the links to advance the body engaging member, a shaft journaled on the support and under the control of an operator, and an arm carried by the shaft, one link being slidably assembled with the arm, the shaft and the arm constituting means for actuating the links, to retract the body engaging member.

2. In a machine for adjusting subluxated vertebrae, a support, a body engaging member movably mounted on the support, first and second links having their inner ends pivotally united, the outer end of th first link being pivotally connected to the support, the outer end of the second link being pivotally connected to the body engaging member, means assembled with the support for actuating the links, to advance the body engaging member, means under the control of an operator and engaging one link, to actuate the links and retract the body engaging member, and adjustable means engaging the n er link to regulate the retraction of the body engaging member.

3. In a machine for adjusting subluxated vertebrae, a support, a body engaging member movv a piston mechanism mounted to move in the cylinder: and means efiecting a pivotal connection between the piston mechanism and the toggle joint mechanism.

4. In a machine for adjusting subluxated vertebrae, a support, a body engaging member movable on the support, mechanism for advancing the body engaging member, said mechanism comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and a piston structure movable in the cylinder and connected to said mechanism, the cylinder having exhaust ports spaced longitudinally of the travel of the piston structure, and so located in the cylinder as to slow down the speed oi! piston advance, as the body engaging member approaches the end of its working stroke.

5. In a machine for adjusting subluxated vertebrae, a support, a body engaging member movable on the support, mechanism for advancin the body engaging member, said mechanism comprisinga fluid pressure cylinder and a piston structure movable in the cylinder and connected to said mechanism, the cylinder having exhaust ports spaced longitudinally of the travel of the piston structure, and so located in the cylinder as to slow down the speed of piston advance, as the .body engaging member approaches the end of its working stroke, and automatically acting valve means associated with the cylinder and constituting an exhaust pressure relief, after the piston structure has been advanced.

6. In a machine for adjusting subluxated vertebrae, a support, a first'link, means mounting the outer end of the first link on the support for swinging movement in a fixed plane, a plunger mounted for straight line sliding movement in the support, a foot mounted directly on the outer end or the plunger for engagement with the body of a patient, a second link, means pivotally connecting the outer end or the second link with the inner end of the plunger, a pivot element connecting the inner end oi. the second link with the inner end of the first link for swinging movement in said plane, and mechanism actuating the links to advance and retract the plunger and the foot, said mechanism comprising a member guided for straight line movement in the support and having its inner end mounted on the pivot element.

WILLIAM NORRIS, JR. 

